COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's top pace bowler Lasith Malinga has recovered from back strain and could make his 2011 World Cup debut against Kenya on Tuesday, according to coach Trevor Bayliss.
"He is available for selection for tomorrow's match," Bayliss told reporters on Monday. "We've got a selection meeting this afternoon, but he is available for selection now."
Sri Lanka sorely missed Malinga's pace over the weekened when Pakistan recorded a nervy 11-run win over the co-host to the disappointment of a capacity home crowd of 35,000 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
"Of course, you will miss someone like that," Bayliss said of Malinga's absence. "The most likelihood of re-injury was in the first two weeks and tomorrow will be two weeks since he has done it."
Bayliss said Malinga has batted and bowled in the last two training sessions and looks to have regained full fitness.
Sri Lanka routed Canada by 210 runs in the opening Group A match, but its backup pace bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera struggled to trouble experienced Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan on Saturday.
Pakistan successfully defended its 277-7 total by restricting Sri Lanka to 266-9, with captain Shahid Afridi claiming 4-34.
But Bayliss insisted Sri Lanka will not be complacent on Tuesday after losing narrowly to Pakistan.
"The fact that we didn't win our last game will stop that (complaceny)," he said. "Our guys are very conscious of playing consistently good cricket."
The relaid wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium have impressed Bayliss, who took over from Tom Moody after it lost the 2007 World Cup final against Australia.
Sri Lanka's 73 ODIs have seen teams batting first winning on 45 occasions at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Had Sri Lanka chased down the target of 278 runs on Saturday, it would have been the best ever chase here.
"The wicket was the best batting wicket I have seen here in the four years," Bayliss said.
Sri Lanka had an ideal start of 76-0 before Pakistan hit back through its captain Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar, reducing the home team to 96-4.
Sri Lanka tried to make a late recovery but Chamara Silva's half century and a quickfire 24 by Kulasekara didn't prove enough.
Bayliss believes his team will put up a much improved performance against Kenya which has already suffered two big defeats against New Zealand and Pakistan.
"I'm sure they'll be out to prove and show how good they can play," he said. "Our guys know we can play a lot better than that and we have played a lot better than that in the last two years."